Apco Coatings Paint Doctor

Glossy spots appear on the paint where my furniture touches or where I clean?

Increase in gloss or sheen of paint when subjected to rubbing, scrubbing or having an object brush up against it. This is called Burnishing.

What are the possible causes?

• Use of paint in highly trafficked areas, where a higher sheen level would be desirable.
• Frequent washing and spot cleaning.
• Objects (furniture, for example) rubbing against the walls.
• Use of lower grades of paint with poor stain scrub resistance.

How can I fix the problem?

• Paint heavy wear that require regular cleaning (i.e., doors, window sills and trim) with top quality water–based paint, because this type of paint offers both durability and easier cleaning capability. 
• In high traffic areas, choose a semigloss or gloss rather than a flat sheen level. Clean painted surfaces with a soft cloth or sponge and non-abrasive cleanser; rinse with clean water.

What is the white powder that comes off the wall when I rub it with my?

Chalking is the formation of a white, dusty powder on the paint film and is actually a natural way for paint to breakdown as it weathers.

What are the possible causes?

• Long-term exposure of paint film to the elements.
• Use of low-quality interior paint on an exterior surface.
• Over thinning the paint.
• Application of paint film that is too thin.
• Failure to prime and seal the surface before applying topcoat.
• Painting on a pre-existing chalky surface.

How can I fix the problem?

• Remove chalk residue using a stiff bristle or wire brush.
• Wash with soap and water and rinse thoroughly with a hose or power washer.
• Allow the surface to dry and check for any remaining chalk by running a hand over the surface.
• If noticeable chalk is still present, apply APCO Block Sealer.
• If no chalk is present re-paint as normal.
• Repaint with a Villa Sunfast Exterior Luxury Finish.

Why is the paint on my walls cracking and peeling?

The splitting of dry paint film through at least one coat. In early stages it appears as hairline cracks and in the later stages flaking occurs.

What are the possible causes?

• Applying low quality paint to the surface, with inadequate adhesion and flexibility.
• Applying a thin a coat of paint to the surface.
• Inadequate surface preparation.
• Failure to prime bare wood before top-coating.
• Oil paint hardens with age, until it eventually cracks.
• Painting on damp wood.

How can I fix the problem?

• Remove the loose or flaking paint with a scraper or wire brush.
• Remove loose paint by scraping or wire brushing.
• Sand the area to feather the edges.
• Prime bare spots.
• Repaint with two coats of Endure Interior/Exterior Enamel.

What’s causing white crusty deposits on the walls?

Efflorescence is the formation of crusty white salt deposits, leaching on to the surface of masonry or mortar as water passes through it.

What are the possible causes?

• Efflorescence occurs when water gets into concrete and dissolves lime within the concrete matrix.
• As the water evaporates, lime is carried to the surface and deposited as salt.
• Excess moisture escaping through the walls.
• Insufficient curing time for new cement or mortar.
• Painting on incompletely dried or uncured concrete.
• Failing to adequately to prepare the surface by removing all previous efflorescence.

How can I fix the problem?

• Eliminate the source.
• Seal cracks with Berger Siliconized Acrylic Caulk.
• Remove efflorescence and loose material by wire brush or power washer.
• Apply APCO Block Sealer.

Why are bubbles there in my paint?

Foaming and cratering frequently occur when bubbles form. When the bubbles break during application and drying, they result in small, round concave depressions or cratering.

What are the possible causes?

• Shaking a partially filled can of paint.
• Applying paint too rapidly especially rolling.
• Using low-quality paint or very old latex paint.
• Using a roller cover with the wrong nap length.
• Excessively rolling or brushing the paint.
• Applying a gloss or semi-gloss paint over a painted surface.

How can I fix the problem?

• All paints will foam to some extent during application.
• Premium quality paints are specially formulated, so the bubbles break while the paint is wet, allowing for good flow and appearance.
• Avoid excessive rolling or brushing of the paint or using old paint.
• Apply gloss and semi-gloss paints with a short nap roller.
• Apply appropriate primer/sealer when painting over a porous surface.
• Problem areas should be sanded before repainting.

How do I get the rid of unsightly mildew on my walls?

Mildew is both an interior and exterior problem found in damp areas receiving little or no sunlight. South Pacific species appear as black, grey, and green spots on any surface.

What are the possible causes?

• Failure to treat existing mildew before painting.
• Using low quality paints with little or no biocide.
• Failing to prime bare wood before painting.
• Painting over a substrate or coating from which mildew has not been removed.

How can I fix the problem?

• Treat mildew with commercial bleach solution.
• Remove mildew by water blasting the surface.
• Allow bleach solution to remain on surface for at least 1 hour.
• Rinse thoroughly with water and allow surface to dry before painting.
• Wear protective eyewear, protective clothing, and waterproof gloves.
• To protect against re-growth use premium quality paint.
• Clean high-moisture areas at 6 month intervals to slow regrowth.

What are those reddish-brown spots on my wood and walls?

Reddish-brown stains on the paint surface are called nail head rusting and are usually a sign that the surrounding wood may be rotting.

What are the possible causes?

• Non-galvanized iron nails exposed to moisture.
• Nails not properly countersunk.
• Nail heads not caulked with siliconized caulk before painting.
• Frequent exposure to damp wood.

How can I fix the problem?

• Completely remove the nail and replace with a new nail.
• Wire brush each nail head until bare shiny metal.
• Clean and spot priming with appropriate APCO primer.
• Topcoat with Villa Sunfast Luxury Exterior Finish or Ensure Interior/Exterior Enamel paint.

Why do I have a patchy paint finish?

Patchiness generally occurs when insufficient paint has been applied or is applied unevenly, resulting in a variation of the film build leading to patches.

What are the possible causes?

• Inconsistent distribution of paint on the surface.
• Incorrect or low quality paint brush or roller.
• Failure to apply a primer over joint compound.
• Applying paint over joint compound not fully dried.
• The top coat is applied over spot-puttied surfaces.
• Variations in surface gloss can cause paint to appear patchy.

How can I fix the problem?

• Increase the amount of paint on the brush or roller to allow better distribution.
• Apply the paint in a grid fashion to ensure an even finish.
• Allow puttied wall to dry evenly before priming.
• By applying one coat of appropriate premium APCO Primer.
• Apply two coats of Fortuna Silk or Villa Sunfast as per substrate.

Why is my paint peeling off the surface?

Peeling often occurs when high levels of moisture penetrate the paint film, eventually pushing it away from the surface.

What are the possible causes?

• Excessive atmospheric moisture, e.g. shower.
• Excessive moisture due to high humidity, e.g. basement and/or foundation.

How can I fix the problem?

• Remove loose paint by scraping or wire-brushing.
• Remove any efflorescence and mildew.
• Power wash with plain water.
• Scrape cracks clean of debris and seal with APCO Damp Block incase of interiors.
• Remove residual dust particles, taking care to not let water into cracks or porous areas.
• Finish with two coats of Fortuna Silk Interior Luxury Finish or Villa Sunfast Exterior Luxury Finish as per the substrate.

Why hasn’t the paint stuck to the surface of my walls and wood?

Failure of paint to stick to the surface on which it has been applied and/or to itself can be described as poor adhesion.

What are the possible causes?

• The biggest cause of poor adhesion is poor surface preparation.
• Insufficient sanding before applying any primer.
• Applying primer too thin.
• Diluting the primer thereby weakening its ability to stick to the surface.
• Failure to prime the surface in the first place.
• Painting on wet or damp surface.
• Incompatible coatings, such as a water based coating over oil.

How can I fix the problem?

• Use the correct type of primerfor the surface.
• Apply primer following manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Never paint on a wet or a damp surface.
• Always ensure that the area is clean, dry and free from contaminants before painting.
• Treat any surface problems before priming.
• Ensure that primers and topcoats are compatible and suitable for the surface being painted.

Why didn’t the hide the surface beneath in two coats as recommended?

Poor hiding occurs when paint fails to obscure or hide the surface to which it is applied.

What are the possible causes?

• Using low-quality paint with little hiding power.
• Spreading paint too thinly or unevenly.
• Over-thinning paint beyond the recommended amount.
• Failure to prime the surface before top-coating.
• Painting a porous or absorbent surface.
• Using incorrect or poor quality tools.
• Inadequately mixed paint.

How can I fix the problem?

• Prime first, if moving from a significantly darker to a light colour.
• When painting in a dark colour, tint primer in a similar tone to the topcoat shade.
• Use premium quality paint for better hiding and flow.
• Use quality and correct tools for the job.
• Follow manufacturer's recommendation for thinning.

Why does my paint come off the wall when scrubbed?

The easy wearing-away of paint when scrubbed with a brush, sponge, or cloth is indicative of a paint which is exhibiting poor scrub resistance.

What are the possible causes?

• Insufficient time allowed for paint to fully dry before washing or scrubbing.
• Use of an abrasive cleaner.
• Choosing the wrong product or sheen for the area.
• Using low quality paint.
• Overly aggressively scrubbing the painted area.

How can I fix the problem?

• Areas requiring frequent washing will require a high quality paint formulated especially to provide such performance.
• High traffic areas may require a silk, semi-gloss or gloss rather than a flat paint.
• Allow adequate dry time, as scrub resistance will not fully develop until the paint has thoroughly cured. Typically, it takes 5 days.
• Use non-abrasive material and mild detergent where possible.

Why do my walls get dirty and stained so easily?

Failure to resist absorption of dirt and stains, occurs with paint not made specifically to resist dirt and stains.

What are the possible causes?

• A highly porous surface can lead poor stain resistance.
• Using of lower quality, flat latex paint.
• Applying paint to an un-primed surface.

How can I fix the problem?

• Use a paint specifically designed to provide stain & dirt resistance.
• Use premium acrylic paint designed for ease of stain removal.
• Premium quality acrylic paints contain more binder, preventing stains from penetrating painted surfaces and allow for easy removal.
• Priming new surfaces provides maximum film thickness of a premium top coat.

Why did the paint roller leave so many marks on my walls?

Failure of paint to dry to a smooth film, resulting in unsightly, unintentional brush or roller marks after the paint has dried.

What are the possible causes?

• Re-brushing or re-rolling fresh paint on partially dried paint.
• Applying paint too rapidly or for too long.
• Using wrong type or poor quality brush, roller or nap size.
• Applying a paint film that’s too thin.
• Painting a hot surface or painting in direct sunlight.
• Coating a very porous surface.
• Incorrect rolling technique.

How can I fix the problem?

• Allow paint to dry thoroughly before applying 2nd coat.
• Wait until the paint has dried thoroughly before touching up.
• Use correct rolling or brushing technique.
• Follow label directions for appropriate quality, applicator size, and type needed.
• Follow label directions for correct film build. 
• Prime to seal porous surfaces.

There are new stains that is automatically appearing on my paint film – what is this?

Concentration of water-soluble ingredients on the surface of a water based paint, typically on a ceiling surface in rooms that have high humidity (e.g. shower, bathroom, kitchen); may be evident as tan or brown spots on areas, and can sometimes be glossy soapy or sticky. This is called Surfacing or

What are the possible causes?

All water based paint formulas will exhibit this tendency to some extent if applied in areas that become humid (bathrooms, for example), it is more likely to occur when the paint is applied in cold weather and exposed to steam within 48 hours.

How can I fix the problem?

Wash the affected area with soap and water, and rinse. The problem may occur once or twice again before leachable material is completely removed. When paint is applied in a bathroom, it is helpful to have it dry thoroughly before using the shower. Remove all staining before repainting.

My new paint job is all wrinkled. Why has this happened?

The hardening on the outer layer of a thick coat of paint before the under layer dries results in the paint film having a rough, wrinkled appearance.

What are the possible causes?

• Applying paint too thickly especially with oil-based paints.
• Applying a second coat of paint before the first has dried.
• Not following recommended drying times.
• Painting during extremely hot causes the paint film to dry faster on top than on the bottom.
• Uncured paint that is exposed to high humidity is also prone to wrinkling.
• Painting over contaminated surface e.g., dirt, grease or wax.

How can I fix the problem?

• Allow wrinkled coating to dry completely.
• Once dry, scrape or sand to remove wrinkled coating.
• In reapplying paint, follow recommended drying between coats.
• Avoid extremes in humidity and heat during application.
• Use premium quality exterior paint.
• It’s always better to apply two thin coats, than one thick coat.
• Consider using a water-based system for a shorter drying and recoating time.

My walls and ceiling were white when painted, and now they’re yellow. Why is this?

The yellow cast that appears over previously painted white surfaces is called yellowing, and mostly occurs with oil paints.

What are the possible causes?

• Use of oil paint in areas not receiving direct sunlight.
• Oxidation of alkyd or oil-based paint or varnish as it ages.
• Heat from stoves, radiators and heating ducts will turn oil paint yellow.
• Lack of light in dark areas such as behind picture frames, appliances and inside closets.
• Tobacco staining or other environmental contaminants.

How can I fix the problem?

• Because of their drying process, water-based painting systems fare better in enclosed areas.
• Water-based acrylic paints are non-yellowing.
• If your preference is for oil paint, ensure maximum sunlight to minimise yellowing.